JP6197473B2 - Image direction discriminating apparatus, image direction discriminating method, image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image direction determining apparatus, an image direction determining method, an image forming system, and a program for performing a function test in a printer control apparatus (DFE: Digital Front End).

  The DFE is an external controller that expands the functions of the internal controller of the printer, and supports advanced imposition and color adjustment functions, so that it can provide advanced printed materials for professional use.

  In this DFE function test, first, the printer side state is set, a print option is designated on a client PC (Personal Computer) connected to the DFE, and then a job is executed on the printer engine. In this DFE function test, commands are exchanged between the DFE and the printer engine interface (I / F), and the printing results of the printer are visually checked to check whether the DFE is functioning correctly. To do.

  By the way, an automatic test tool for automating these workflows is currently being developed. This automatic test tool includes an application for automatically operating a client PC connected to the DFE and a printer engine simulator. The automatic test tool automatically operates the client PC according to the test scenario, executes a job for the printer engine simulator, and acquires the simulator parameters and execution results. decide.

  In Patent Document 1, a character recognizing unit is mounted on an image forming apparatus having a stapling unit in order to staple the output recording paper to an appropriate position, and the system control unit determines the direction of characters in received image data. A configuration for controlling the staple unit based on the recognition result is described.

  However, in order to realize the automation of the test tool, it is necessary to automate the evaluation of the printed image. Specifically, when testing post-processing such as stapling, it is necessary to determine whether or not the processing position is the correct position with respect to the image. For example, when the staple is designated as the left diagonal binding, the staple needs to be applied to the upper left of the image.

  In order to automate this test tool, two pieces of information are necessary: the position of post-processing and the direction of the image of the print result. Currently, the post-processing position can be acquired as a parameter of the engine simulator, but information such as the image direction cannot be acquired on the simulator. This is because when the image data is sent to the engine by the DFE, the image is rotated in an appropriate direction according to the orientation of the paper and the finishing position.

  Since the engine side receives the rotated image data, information such as how much the image is rotating and in what direction cannot be acquired from the engine side. Therefore, at present, in such a test, the tester visually confirms the printed matter one by one. That is, the determination part of the image has not been automated, and it has been desired to automate the printer function test.

  In Patent Document 1, although the direction of the print image is detected, it can be handled only when the characters are all in the same direction, and cannot be detected when there are characters in different directions. For this reason, it is not possible to deal with a case where an image is printed in a plurality of directions, such as a combined print of a document in which a portrait image and a landscape image are mixed. Since such a case also exists in the DFE test items, the test automation cannot be realized by the image orientation determination by character recognition as described in Patent Document 1.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image direction discriminating apparatus, an image direction discriminating method, an image forming system, and a program capable of automating an operation for confirming an image of a print result. There is to do.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the above object, an image direction determination device according to the present invention includes an image direction, a page number in the job of the image, and a discharge of a recording medium on which the image is recorded. An image reading unit for reading an evaluation pattern image storing information on the orientation of the recording medium at the time, a direction of the image from the evaluation pattern image read by the image reading unit, and a page in the job of the image Image direction discriminating means for discriminating information including a number and information on the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded is discharged .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automate an operation for confirming an image of a print result.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a DFE automatic test system including an image direction discrimination device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image direction determination module according to the embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a pattern image for evaluation of a portrait image according to an embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an evaluation pattern image of a landscape image according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a method of direction discrimination processing according to an embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an evaluation pattern image for explaining evaluation pattern determination according to an embodiment. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an evaluation pattern image for explaining image orientation determination according to an embodiment. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an evaluation pattern image for explaining portrait / landscape discrimination according to an embodiment. FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating an evaluation pattern image for explaining page number determination according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of imposition position determination processing according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an evaluation pattern image for explaining a state in which a plurality of evaluation pattern images according to an embodiment are aggregated. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an array pattern of center coordinates when at least one image is aggregated into one image data according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image direction determining device, an image direction determining method, an image forming system, and a program will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(One embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic test system 1 of a printer control apparatus (DFE: Digital Front End) according to an embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the DFE automatic test system 1 according to this embodiment includes a DFE 11 and a PC 12. The PC 12 has a function of a printer engine simulator, and includes an automatic test tool 13 including a printer engine simulator and an application that automatically operates the DFE 11, a recording unit 14, and an image direction determination module 15 that determines an image direction. Is provided. In FIG. 1, for the sake of explanation, the automatic test tool 13, the recording unit 14, and the image direction determination module 15 are illustrated outside the PC 12, but these are actually provided in the PC 12.

  In the automatic test system 1, when a test job such as a staple left diagonal binding and a test scenario file S are input to the automatic test tool 13 of the PC 12, the automatic test tool 13 reads the scenario file S. The DFE 11 is automatically operated according to the above and a job is executed on the PC 12 functioning as a printer engine simulator.

  Then, the PC 12 records the execution result (image data) obtained in the simulator in a predetermined recording unit 14 formed of a hard disk or the like, and then uses this image data as an image direction determination module in the PC 12. 15 As a result, the PC 12 functions as an image direction determination device that calculates the image direction when each image is ejected in the image data.

  Finally, the automatic test tool 13 automatically determines the pass / fail of the test based on the execution result other than the image direction such as the image direction in the image data and the post-processing position. As for the simulator, a device such as a printer can be substituted for the PC 12. That is, the direction of the image data can be acquired by mounting an image scanning device at the discharge port of the printer engine, supplying the image data scanned by the scanning device to the PC 12 and inputting it to the image direction determination module 15. Is possible.

  Next, the algorithm of the image direction determination module 15 according to this embodiment and the configuration of the evaluation pattern image for determining the image direction will be described. That is, the evaluation pattern image prepared in advance is used as a test image, and the PC 12 inputs the execution result simulated by the simulator of the PC 12 with respect to the test image, that is, the test result, to the image direction determination module 15. To do. Then, the image direction determination module 15 generates information such as the paper discharge direction when the image is printed, and supplies the information to the automatic test tool 13 of the PC 12, so that the automatic test tool 13 automatically outputs the test result. Get in.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the image direction discrimination module 15 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image direction determining module 15 in the PC 12 includes an image reading unit 21 as an image reading unit, an image direction determining unit 22 as an image direction determining unit, and an imposition position as an imposition position determining unit. And a determination unit 23. The image reading unit 21 reads image data simulated by the simulator of the PC 12. The image direction determination unit 22 automatically determines portrait / landscape information as image direction, page number, and recording medium orientation information from the image data acquired by the image reading unit 21. . The imposition position determination unit 23 determines the imposition position of each image when a plurality of images are printed on one sheet of paper by the aggregation function of the simulator, that is, when aggregation printing is performed. It has a function to recognize automatically.

(Image orientation discrimination function)
Next, a method for realizing the function of the image direction determination unit 22 in the image direction determination module 15 described above will be described. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are diagrams showing a portrait image (Portrait image) and a landscape image (Landscape image), which are evaluation pattern images used for discriminating the image direction, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 have square patterns 31a and 32a on the outer peripheral side and square patterns 31b and 32b on the inner peripheral side, respectively. That is, the pattern has a square on the inside and outside as a feature of the pattern. The ratio of the distance from each side of each side of the inner square to the parallel side corresponding to each of the outer squares is, for example, upper side: left side: lower side: right side = 2: 2: 1: 1. ing. By changing the ratio in this way, the image direction determination module 15 can calculate the direction of the image.

  In these evaluation pattern images 31 and 32, the upper half regions in the figure in the inner square patterns 31b and 32b are 1-bit information regions 31c and 32c. In the 1-bit information areas 31c and 32c, portrait / landscape information of an image is stored in a 1-bit format. As shown in FIG. 3A, the 1-bit information area 31c is represented as white in the portrait image, whereas the 1-bit information area 32c is represented as black in the landscape image as shown in FIG. 3B. Is done.

  Further, in these evaluation pattern images 31 and 32, the lower half regions in the figure in the inner square patterns 31b and 32b are page number information regions 31d and 32d, respectively. In these page number information areas 31d and 32d, page number information in an image job is stored in an 8-bit format. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, white and black indicate 0 and 1, respectively, and the right ends of the page number information areas 31d and 32d are reserved areas used as necessary.

  Then, the image direction determination module 15 reads the result of printing the above-described evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 by image processing. As a result, the image direction determination module 15 can simultaneously acquire information such as the direction, page number, and portrait / landscape of each image. Therefore, when evaluating the print result image, the previously created evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 are designated as test documents.

  Next, an algorithm for discriminating an image direction using the above-described evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 executed by each component of the image direction discrimination module 15 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an algorithm for determining a direction.

  The PC 12 storing the image orientation determination module 15 according to this embodiment includes a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD and a CD drive device, a display device, and the like. Display device and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. That is, the image direction determination module 15 is realized by a hardware configuration using a computer. The program executed as the image orientation determination module 15 is provided in a form that can be installed or executable and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD. it can. In addition, the program executed in the image orientation determination device of this embodiment can be provided by storing it on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloading it via the network. Further, this program may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Further, the program of this embodiment may be configured to be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. The program executed in the image direction determination module 15 according to this embodiment may have a module configuration including the above-described units. That is, as actual hardware, a CPU (processor) reads out the program from the above-described storage medium and executes the program to read out the above-described units to the main storage device, thereby reading the image reading unit 21, the image direction determining unit 22, and the surface. It is good also as a module structure which produces | generates the attached position determination part 23. FIG. Note that the image reading unit 21, the image orientation determination unit 22, and the imposition position determination unit 23 are each realized only by so-called software that causes a processing device such as a CPU to execute a program independently or in conjunction with each other. Alternatively, it may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit). Further, the image reading unit 21, the image direction determination unit 22, and the imposition position determination unit 23 may be realized by using software and hardware, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the image reading unit 21 of the image direction determination module 15 converts the image data into a kind of image data format (image format), for example, a bitmap. An image input step for obtaining in a format is performed (step ST1).

  Next, the process proceeds to step ST <b> 2, and the image reading unit 21 uses the contour extraction process in the image processing to form the outer square shape having the square patterns 31 b and 32 b on the inner side in the evaluation pattern images 31 and 32. The contour extraction step for acquiring the contours of the patterns 31a and 32a is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST3.

  In step ST3, the image direction discrimination unit 22 of the image direction discrimination module 15 extracts the sides of the extracted outer square patterns 31a and 32a and the inner square shape parallel to and corresponding to these sides. The distance to each side of the patterns 31b and 32b is obtained. Then, the image direction determination unit 22 determines whether the ratio of these distances, that is, the ratio of the distances on the respective sides is 2: 2: 1: 1. An evaluation pattern determination step is performed to determine whether or not the ratio matches.

  In step ST3, when the image direction determination unit 22 determines that the ratio of the distances at each side in the acquired image data matches the ratio in the evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 (step ST3: Yes), The process proceeds to step ST4. Here, in this step ST3, there is a possibility that the image of the print result that is the input image data is rotated. Therefore, depending on the rotation of the image, upper side: left side: lower side: right side = 2: 2: 1. : 1 may not be. Therefore, in the determination in step ST3, whether or not the ratio of each side is a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1 is used for the determination. In other words, the image direction determination unit 22 determines that the pattern images for evaluation 31 and 32 are the same if the ratios are the same even if the pattern is other than the pattern of upper side: left side: lower side: right side (step ST3: Yes).

  In step ST4, the image direction determination unit 22 performs a direction determination step of determining the direction of the acquired image data. Next, the process proceeds to step ST5, in which the image orientation determination unit 22 acquires portrait (vertically long) / landscape (landscape) information in the acquired image data to determine the orientation of the sheet as a recording medium. A paper orientation discrimination step is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST6, where the image direction determination unit 22 performs page number determination step of acquiring page number information in the job in the acquired image data and determining the page number. Note that these steps ST3 to ST6 are not necessarily limited to these orders, and may be performed in other orders or may be performed simultaneously. Details of the evaluation pattern determination step, the direction determination step, the paper orientation determination step, and the page number determination step in these steps ST3 to ST6 will be described later.

  Thereafter, the image direction determination unit 22 performs a processing result output step of supplying the test result obtained by performing the determination in steps ST4 to ST6 to the obtained image data to, for example, the automatic test tool 13 of the PC 12 (step ST7). When the processing result output step in step ST7 is completed, the process proceeds to step ST8, where the imposition position determination unit 23 executes imposition position determination processing, and a series of test processes ends. The details of the imposition position determination process will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the ratio of the distances at each side in the acquired image data does not coincide with the evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 in step ST3, that is, when the evaluation pattern images 31 and 32 are not detected (step ST3: No), the process proceeds to step ST9.

  In step ST9, the image direction determination unit 22 performs a blank page determination step for determining whether or not the image data is blank page data. That is, when the image direction determination unit 22 determines that the input image data is not an evaluation pattern image, the image reading unit 21 reads the luminance value in the image data. Then, the image direction determination unit 22 determines whether the image data is blank data based on the luminance value read by the image reading unit 21.

  When the image direction determination unit 22 determines that the image data is blank data (step ST9: Yes), the process proceeds to step ST10. In step ST10, the image direction determination unit 22 executes a processing result output step of outputting to the automatic test tool 13 as a processing result that the image data is blank data, and a series of test processing ends.

  On the other hand, when the image direction determination unit 22 determines that the image data is not blank data (step ST9: No), the process proceeds to step ST11. In step ST11, the image direction determination unit 22 executes a processing result output step of outputting to the automatic test tool 13 as a processing result that the image data is not the data of the pattern image for evaluation, and a series of test processing ends. To do.

  As described above, whether the acquired image data is blank data or not, the result of the test process results in an error. However, the image direction discrimination module 15 can distinguish between the case where the acquired image data is blank and the case where an image other than the evaluation pattern is input. As a result, even if the result of the test processing is an error, the automatic test tool 13 distinguishes the information that the acquired image data is blank from the information that is input with an image other than the evaluation pattern, and the PC 12 By displaying the test result on the display unit or the like, it is possible to notify the user of the test result whether or not the page is blank.

(Image direction discrimination processing)
Next, the processing steps executed in steps ST3 to ST6 described above will be described in detail. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 5D are for evaluation to explain an evaluation pattern determination step, an image direction determination step, a portrait / landscape determination step that is a paper orientation determination step, and a page number determination step, respectively. It is a figure which shows the pattern image 31. FIG.

  First, in the image orientation determination step in step ST4, image data on which the evaluation pattern image 31 shown in FIG. 5A is printed is targeted. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image direction determination unit 22 determines the distance between vertices at each corner between the inner square pattern 31b and the outer square pattern 31a (both directions in FIG. 5B). Arrow). In FIG. 5B, “Top” is the printing direction. In the evaluation pattern image 31 shown in FIG. 5B, the ratio of the distance intervals between the sides of the inner square pattern 31b and the outer square pattern 31a is 2: 2: 1: 1 (FIG. 3B). reference). Thereby, the ratios of the distances between the vertices on the diagonal lines of the square patterns 31a and 31b are respectively the upper left in FIG. 5B: lower right = 2: 1 and the lower left in FIG. 5B: upper right = 1: 1.

  Therefore, the image direction discriminating unit 22 compares the distances between the vertices on the diagonal, the ratio of the distance between the vertices on one diagonal is 2: 1, and the ratio of the distance between the vertices on the other diagonal is 1. The image direction is determined by confirming that the ratio is 1. That is, the longer one of the two diagonal vertices of the square patterns 31a and 31b having a ratio of the distance between vertices of 2: 1, that is, of the vertices having a ratio of 2: 1. Is determined to be the upper left of the image data. This makes it possible to determine the direction of the acquired image data. In FIG. 5B, the direction of the acquired image data is determined to be upward (step ST4 in FIG. 4).

  After the direction of the image data acquired in this way is determined, the image reading unit 21 reads the 1-bit information area 31c in the upper half of the inner square pattern 31b in the evaluation pattern image 31 shown in FIG. 5C. Get the pixel value. If the pixel value acquired by the image reading unit 21 is 255, the image direction determination unit 22 determines that the acquired image data is a portrait image, and if the acquired pixel value is 0, It is determined that the acquired image data is a landscape image (step ST5 in FIG. 4).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, for the lower half of the page number information area 31d of the inner square pattern 31b, for example, a luminance scan from the right end to the left end is performed with respect to the determined image data direction. Do. As a result, the page number information is acquired in bit format. In the example of the evaluation pattern image 31 shown in FIG. 5D, the page number information area 31d is an 8-bit information area divided into eight areas. Bits, that is, page numbers up to 255 pages can be discriminated.

  5A to 5D corresponding to the above steps ST3 to ST6, the image direction, portrait / landscape, and page number are obtained from the image data acquired as the print result by the series of flows according to FIGS. Information can be acquired sequentially or simultaneously.

(Aggregation of evaluation pattern images)
Next, a case where the acquired image data is image data obtained by collecting a plurality of evaluation pattern images will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the imposition position determination processing in step ST8 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing each evaluation pattern image showing a case where a plurality of evaluation pattern images are aggregated and printed as one image data by the aggregation function, and FIG. 8 is an aggregated image in aggregate printing. It is a figure which shows the example of the center coordinate pattern of data.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in step ST21, the imposition position determination unit 23 executes a center coordinate calculation step of calculating the center coordinates of the evaluation pattern images 33, 34, 35, and 36 as shown in FIG. To do. That is, the center coordinates of the evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 are calculated from the contours of the plurality of evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 extracted by the image reading unit 21 in the contour extraction step of step ST2 shown in FIG. . Specifically, in the case of performing so-called aggregate printing in which the evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 of a plurality of pages are aggregated into one sheet, the imposition position determination unit 23 of the image direction determination module 15 uses the aggregated image data. The number and the central coordinates from each contour of the evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 are calculated.

  Next, the process proceeds to step ST22 shown in FIG. 6, and the imposition position determination unit 23 determines how many evaluation patterns based on the center coordinates of the evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 calculated in the center coordinate calculation step. An aggregation determination step is performed to determine whether images are printed on one sheet, that is, the number of images to be aggregated. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the center point pattern used for the aggregation determination step. From the 2in1 that prints an image for two pages on one sheet to 16in1 that prints an image for 16 pages on one sheet. And the center point pattern up to. Then, the imposition position determination unit 23 compares the center point pattern of the image data calculated in advance in each aggregate printing as shown in FIG. 8 with the input image data, and determines the closest center point pattern as the image. It is determined that the data is imposition. For example, in the example of collective printing (Nup printing) shown in FIG. 7, the center point pattern in a so-called 4in1 image that aggregates four images into one sheet is the closest, so the image data shown in FIG. 7 is 4in1. Can be determined.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST23 shown in FIG. 6, and the imposition position discrimination for discriminating at which position each of the evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 is impositioned based on the number of specified image data. Do step. In this imposition position determination step, the imposition position determination unit 23 determines which position of each evaluation pattern image from the information on the number of specified image data and the calculated center coordinates of each evaluation pattern image. Determine whether it is impositioned. In addition, since the information such as the direction and page number of each image can be acquired by the image direction determination process by the image direction determination unit 22 in the previous stage, the imposition function determination unit 23 uses the aggregation function to order a plurality of images in the correct order. It is possible to automatically determine whether or not it is printed on one sheet of paper.

  And it transfers to step ST24 and the imposition position determination part 23 performs the process result output step which outputs the calculation result of the imposition position of all the pattern images 33-36 for evaluation in the acquired image data. . That is, in the processing result output step, the calculation results of the imposition positions of all the evaluation pattern images 33 to 36 calculated by the imposition position determination unit 23 are displayed on the display unit of the PC 12 and notified to the user. The

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus that prints an image according to the above-described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 100 has a configuration in which a controller 110 and an engine unit (Engine) 160 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interface) bus. The controller 110 is a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus 100 and controls drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown). The engine unit 160 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a 1-drum color plotter, a 4-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 160 includes an image processing unit such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine unit such as a plotter.

  The controller 110 includes a CPU 111, a north bridge (NB) 113, and a system memory (MEM-P) 112. The controller 110 further includes a south bridge (SB) 114, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 116, a local memory (MEM-C) 117, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 118. The north bridge (NB) 113 and the ASIC 116 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 115. The MEM-P 112 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112b.

  The CPU 111 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 100 and includes a chip set including the NB 113, the MEM-P 112, and the SB 114. The CPU 111 is connected to other devices via this chipset.

  The NB 113 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 111 to the MEM-P 112, SB 114, and AGP 115. The NB 113 includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 112, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 112 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a printer drawing memory, and the like, and includes a ROM 112a and a RAM 112b. The ROM 112a is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, and the RAM 112b is a writable and readable memory used as a program and data development memory, a printer drawing memory, and the like.

  The SB 114 is a bridge for connecting the NB 113 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 114 is connected to the NB 113 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 116 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP 115, the PCI bus, the HDD 118, and the MEM-C 117. The ASIC 116 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 116, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 117, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that rotate image data using hardware logic. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that transfers data between the engine unit 160 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Facsimile Control Unit) 130, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 140, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 150 are connected to the ASIC 116 via a PCI bus. The operation display unit 120 is directly connected to the ASIC 116.

  The MEM-C 117 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 118 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. Furthermore, the AGP 115 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card that has been proposed to speed up graphic processing. The AGP 115 can speed up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 112 with high throughput.

  According to the image orientation determination apparatus according to the embodiment described above, the evaluation pattern images 31 to 36 prepared in advance are designated as test documents. Then, the PC 12 that functions as a simulator obtains the print result image when the print setting of the job is designated by the DFE 11 and is printed as image data. Further, by inputting the acquired image data to the image direction determination module 15 of the PC 12, the direction of each page in the image data can be determined. Further, even when the pages are consolidated and impositioned, Since the PC 12 can automatically acquire information indicating which page image of the job is located at which position, test processing such as post-processing such as stapling by the DFE 11 can be automated.

  Although one embodiment has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible. For example, the numerical values given in the above embodiment are merely examples, and different numerical values may be used as necessary.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus has a printer function. However, the image forming apparatus can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a scanner device, and a facsimile machine.

  In the above embodiment, the automatic test tool 13 and the image orientation determination module 15 and the application for automatically operating the simulator and the DFE 11 are executed by the single PC 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each of the functions and processes may be executed by a plurality of PCs and control circuits. The functions and processes may be executed by communicating with each other through a network. Also good.

1 Automatic test system 11 DFE
12 PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Automatic test tool 14 Recording part 15 Image direction discrimination module 21 Image reading part 22 Image direction discrimination part 23 Imposition position determination part 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Pattern image for evaluation 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b Pattern 31c, 32c 1-bit information area 31d, 32d Page number information area 100 Image forming apparatus

JP 2001-268289 A

Claims (6)

Image reading means for reading an evaluation pattern image storing information on the orientation of the image , the page number in the job of the image, and the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded ;
From the evaluation pattern image read by the image reading means, the direction of the image, the page number in the job of the image, and the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded are discharged . Image direction discriminating means for discriminating information including information;
An image direction discrimination device comprising: When the plurality of evaluation pattern images are imposed on one image, the center coordinates of the plurality of square evaluation pattern images are calculated, and the surface of the evaluation pattern image is calculated from the images. The image orientation determining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imposition position determining unit that determines the number of the attached images. The image direction determining means determines whether the image read by the image reading means is the evaluation pattern image ;
When it is determined that the pattern image is for evaluation, information on the direction of the image, the page number in the job of the image, and the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded is discharged To determine information including
The image direction discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein An image reading step of reading an evaluation pattern image storing information on the direction of the image , the page number in the job of the image, and the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded ;
From the evaluation pattern image read in the image reading step, the direction of the image, a page number in the job of the image, the direction of the recording medium at the time of paper discharging the image recorded said recording medium An image direction determining step for determining information including information;
An image orientation determination method comprising: An image forming means for forming an image;
An image reading means for reading an evaluation pattern image storing information on the direction of the image , the page number in the job of the image, and the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded ;
From said image reading means the evaluation pattern image read, the direction of the image, a page number in the job of the image, the direction of the recording medium at the time of paper discharging the image recorded said recording medium Image direction discriminating means for discriminating information including information;
An image forming system comprising: An image reading step of reading an evaluation pattern image storing information on the direction of the image , the page number in the job of the image, and the orientation of the recording medium when the recording medium on which the image is recorded ;
From the evaluation pattern image read in the image reading step, the direction of the image, a page number in the job of the image, the direction of the recording medium at the time of paper discharging the image recorded said recording medium An image direction determining step for determining information including information;
A program that causes a computer to execute.

Images